Roadway divider fence construction



May 28, 1968 F. CUTHBERT ROADWAY DIVIDER FENCE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 16, 1966 FIG.4

l NVEN TOR. Gum a527- firra xveys' United States Patent 3,385,565 ROADWAY DIVIDER FENCE CONSTRUCTION Fred Cuthbert, 908 S. Catalina Ave., Redondo Beach, Calif. 90277 Filed Sept. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 579,966 3 Claims. (Cl. 25613.1)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Roadway divider fence construction including fencing material supported from the upper portion of a vertical post. The lower portion of such post is received in a vertical tubular post support which includes a downwardly tapered lower extremity that receives the lower end of the post and centers it within such post support. A resilient cap is telescopically removably received in the open upper end of the post support and is formed with an aperture corresponding with the transverse cross-section of the post. Thus, the post is extended through the aperture and its lower end abuts the tapered lower portion of the post support thereby holding such post in vertical alignment with such support.

Summary 0 the invention The present invention is characterized by a vertical post having its lower portion received in a tubular post support and its bottom end centered in such support by being butted against the walls of a tapered lower portion of such support. A cap is telescopically received by the upper end of the support and includes an aperture which receives and supports the intermediate portion of the post.

The present invention relates generally to roads and highways and more particularly to a new and novel divider fence construction.

Modern freeways and expressways often utilize a divider fence to separate fast-moving oppositely-directed vehicular traffic. Portions of these divider fences are frequently demolished by contact with out-of-control vehicles. Such divider fences are generally supported by steel posts, the lower portion of which are embedded in concrete. These posts support steel cables, with the cables in turn carrying steel fencing mesh. To replace a damaged section of a conventional divider fence, the bent or broken steel posts are cut off about twelve inches above the surface of the pavement. A hole is then cut in the post for receiving the hook of a winch. The post is then winched upwardly out of its concrete base and a new post is concreted in place. The concrete must harden before the steel mesh may be afiixed to the post. It will be appreciated that this procedure is both time-consuming and costly. It will also be appreciated that during the time repair is being undertaken, the lane adjacent the divider fence must be blocked to trafiic thereby lowering the vehicular capacity of the roadway.

It is a major object of the present invention to provide a. roadway divider fence construction that permits repair of the divider fence in a minimum of time and at a comparatively low cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a roadway divider fence construction of the aforedescribed nature which may readily replace existing assemblies of this type.

A more particular object of the present invention is to provide a roadway divider fence construction utilizing a post support that is permanently embedded in the pavement, with such post support supporting a post in such manner that it may be readily removable should it be bent or broken, and the upper portion of the post support is provided with a removable cap, such cap supporting the post in vertical alignment with the post support.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a roadway divider fence construction embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken in enlarged scale on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a broken vertical sectional view taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIGURE 1 thereof, there is shown a roadway divider fence F which is carried by a plurality of spaced-apart support posts P that are mounted by preferred means embodying the present invention. The divider fence F includes steel netting 10 carried by a pair of steel cables 12 and 14 that are removably aflixed to the intermediate portions of the posts P. The lower portion of posts P are removably supported within post supports S embedded in the pavement 16 of the roadway. Each post support S is provided with a cap C. Supports S are not visible in FIGURE 1.

More particularly, each support post S is of like construction and is of tubular configuration having a downwardly tapered lower portion 22. The upper end of post support S is open. Each support S and post P is preferably formed of steel. Posts P are of channel shape, by way of example, the channel of H configuration disclosed in the drawings. Other shapes, however, will also prove suitable.

The upper portion of each post support S telescopically removably receives one of the caps C. Each cap C is of generally cylindrical configuration and is coaxial with its post support S. Cap C is formed of a resilient material such as a synthetic rubber and includes a head 24 which is formed with a circumferential slot 26 that telescopically receives the upper portion 28 of the post support S. A neck 30 depends from the head 24 to a point below the underside of such head and is engaged with the upper interior portion of support S. As indicated particularly in FIGURES 2 and 4, the head 24 is formed with an H- shaped aperture 32 corresponding to the transverse crosssection of post P.

To install the aforedescribed assembly, the post support S is embedded in the pavement 16. Where the assembly embodying the present invention is utilized to replace a conventional post assembly, the pavement 16 may first be split and thereafter the post support S will be driven downwardly as by means of a sledge hammer or a jack hammer. The upper portion 28 of the post support S should extend upwardly above the surface of the pavement 16 about the height of slot 26. The cap C is then pressed into place upon the upper portion 28 of the post support S. It is desirable to provide a lubricant for the cap to accomplish such mounting. The post P is then urged downwardly through the aperture 32 into the confines of the post support S until the lower end of the post engages the interior surfaces of the tapered lower portion 22 of the post support. In this manner the post P will be securely held in vertical alignment with the post support 3.

The port P is then removably connected to the steel cables 12 and 14 and to the steel netting 10 by suitable clamps or the like (not shown). Should the post P be thereafter bent or broken, it is only necessary to disconnect the cables 12 and 14 and the steel netting 10 from the damaged post. Thereafter, a new post P is easily inserted within the post support S and the cables 12 and 14 and the same or replacement steel netting 10 attached to such new post. This may be accomplished in a minimum amount of time.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made with respect to the foregoing detailed description, without departing from the spirit of the present invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A roadway divider fence construction, comprising:

fencing material;

a vertical tubular post support having a downwardly tapered lower portion, the upper end of said support being open;

a vertical post having its lower end cooperatively engaged in said tapered lower portion whereby the weight of said post locates said lower end centrally in said tapered lower portion, said post extending upwardly for connection to said fencing material;

and a cap coaxial with said post support and telescopically removahly engaged with the upper end thereof, said cap being formed with an aperture corresponding to the transverse cross-section of said post, whereby said tapered lower portion and said aperture cooperate to removably hold said post in vertical alignment with said post support.

2. A roadway divider fence construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cap is formed of a resilient material.

3. A roadway divider fence construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cap includes a head formed with a circumferential slot that receives the upper portion of said post support and a neck that depends into the upper interior of said support, said head being formed -with said aperture.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 449,777 4/1891 Hall 287-18936 1,982,569 11/1934 Byrd 52298 2,554,288 5/1951 Ainsley 52298 X 3,067,546 12/1962 Cuperus et a1. 52298 3,193,059 7/1965 Wallerstein 52297 3,335,534 8/1967 Hester et al 25613.1 X

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

D. L. TAYLOR, Examiner. 

